A New York City subway rider was brutally stabbed in the back during Thursday morning’s rush hour at a Greenwich Village station after a heated clash with a stranger — a man police say has nearly a dozen prior arrests and a history of violent outbursts.
According to the NYPD, the attack unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on a Brooklyn-bound D train at West 4th Street. The 51-year-old victim and the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Justice Jackson, began arguing while on board. When they both stepped off the train, police say Jackson suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the back before fleeing.
The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and is in stable condition, officials confirmed.
Jackson, who was caught on surveillance cameras wearing dark gray sweatpants, a black shirt, and slippers, jumped back on the train and disappeared into the transit system. More than 24 hours later, on Friday afternoon, officers arrested him and charged him with felony and misdemeanor assault.
Authorities revealed Jackson is homeless and classified as an “emotionally disturbed person.” His record includes 11 prior arrests, including multiple grand larceny cases, and he’s considered a repeat transit offender. Police have also responded to at least 10 incidents involving him as an emotionally disturbed person.
He was hospitalized after his arrest, though it’s unclear why.
The stabbing comes amid heightened concern over safety in New York City’s subway system. NYPD data shows felony assaults in the transit system are slightly up this year — 453 reported so far, compared to 445 at this time in 2024. Overall felony crime on the rails, however, has dipped by about 4 percent.
